Handset unit for timepieces



Dec. 5, I950 w. F. RIEMER HANDSET-UNIT FOR TIMEPIECES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 17, 1949 Patented Dec. 5, 1950 HANDSET UNIT FOR TIMEPIECES W alter F. Riemer, Bristol, Conn., assignor to The E. Ingraham Company, Bristol, Conn, a. corporation of Connecticut Application May 17, 1949, Serial No. 93,677

7 Claims. 1

The present invention relates in general to timepieces and more especially to the handset of timepiece and the means for mounting the handset therein, wherey the manually-operable setting-staff of the handset may project radially from the timepiece or from the back thereof.

Heretoiore, it has been customary in the manufacture of timepieces, to build the handset into the frame of the timepieces as a permanent part thereof. Consequently, in order to make available to the trade timepieces of the type having the manually-operable setting-stair of the handset projecting from the hack of the case and timepieces of the type having the setting-staff of the handset projecting radially from the case, it has been necessary to stock large quantities of the two types of timepieces. The present invention relates to a handset-unit which is so constructed that it may be selectively mounted in a pre-assembled frame of a timepiece so that its setting staff will project either from the back of the frame or radially thereof, in accordance with a particular requirement. v

An object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a superior handset-unit of economical and durable construction.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. timepiece with handset-unit which may be selectively assembled in the frame of the timepiece so that its setting-staff may vproject from the back of the frame or radially thereof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a handset-unit for use with a timepiece wherein the pre-assemhled movement-plates of the time ce are provided with two sets of holding apertnres in which the handset-unit is arranged to be selectively assembled so that its setting-stair" may project radially from the timepiece or from the back thereof.

With the above and other objects in view, as will appear to those skilled in the art from the :esent disclosure, this invention includes all features in the said disclosure which are novel over the prior art.

In the accompanying drawings, in which certain modes of canying out the present invention are shown for illustrative purposes:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the pre-assernoled movement-frame atimepiece showing the handset-unit of this invention mounted therein F that its setting-staff projects radially therefrom;

2 a right-side elevation of the timepiece movementdrame of l but also showing the been and minute=hands;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary portion or" the hack of the movement-frame with the setting staff 0f the handset-unit projecting radially therefrom, as in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarge 12 agrnentary plan elevation of the movement-frame and handset-unit on section line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in section of the movement-frame and handset-unit of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation of the movement-frame and handset-unit partly in section as in Fig. 5 but showing one movementplate of the frame deflected outwardly with respect to the opposite movement-plate to permit assembly of the handset-unit in the frame;

Fig, 7 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevation partly in vertical section of the frame of the timepiece showing the handset-unit assembled in the movement-plates so that its settingstaff proiects from the back of the frame;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation similar to Fig. '7 but showing one movement-plate deflected outwardly with respect to the opposite movement-plate to permit assembly 'of the handset-unit in the frame;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary rear elevation of the frame of the timepiece on line 9-9 of Fig. '7 showing the handset-unit mounted therein so that its setting-staff projects from the back of the frame;

Fig. 10 is an elevation of the handset-unit of this invention;

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a fragmentary portion of the front movement-plate showing the handset unit holding apertures therein; and

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear movement-plate showing the handset-emit holding-apertures thereof interconnected by a radial slot intersecting the edge of the movement-plate.

Referring to the drawings, the latter show the pro-assembled movement-frame is of a timepiece which may be spring-driven or electrically operated and may or may not include an alarmmechanism, the pie-assembled movement-frame l5 comprising front and rear movement-plates i5 and l! respectively held in spaced substantially-parallel relationship by pillars 23. In the embodiment shown, three such pillars are used, each pillar being fixedly secured at one end IS in the back-plate ll of the movement frame and provided at its opposite end with a necked-down portion having external threads 2!! for accommodating a nut 2!, the front-plate it of the movemerit-frame being adapted to be assembled on the necked-down portions of the pillars i8 and to be held securely against the shoulders thereof by tightening up the nuts 25. By loosening or removing the two nuts 2i adjacent the hereinafter described handset-unit holding-apertures of the ino-vementdrame, the frontand back-plates may be sprung apart slightly, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2, to permit assembly of the handset-unit in the movement-frame in the manner and for the purpose described below.

The time-train, energy source and other elements of the timepiece are ancillary to the present invention and consequently are not shown. However, the gear-train with which the handset-unit of this invention is directly associated, is shown and, as indicated generally at 22, comprises, in the main, an hour-sleeve 23 which has a bearing adjacent its inner end in an aperture of the front movement-plate and which projects outwardly therefrom at substantially right angles thereto. Secured to the inner end of the hoursleeve Within the movement-frame i5, is an hour-wheel 2s adapted to mesh with a piniongear 25 of the gea train. The hour-sleeve 23 provides a longitudinal bearing for supporting the minute-arbor 26, the inner end of which extends through the front. movement-plate and is journaled in the rear movement-plate of the frame, the portion of the minute-arbor immediately rearwardly of the hour-Wheel 24%. serving as a support for a pinion-gear 27 which is secured thereto and meshes with a settinggear 28 of the gear-train. The minute-arbor also serves as a mount for the minute-wheel 29 of the gear-train. As shown in Fig. 2, the hour-hand 3b of the timepiece is secured to the outer end of the. hoursleeve 23, while the minute-hand BI is secured to. the outer end of the minute-arbor 26, the hour-hand 3G and minute-hand 31 being hereinafter referred to as the indicating-means of the timepiece,

Since the gear-train is of substantia11y-conven tional construction, a more detailed description thereof is deemed to be unnecessary, it being sufficient to, point. out that it constitutes means for: connecting the setting-gear 28 of the geart-rain with the indicating-means whereby rotation of the setting-gear 2s will set the hourand minute-hands respective of the timepiece.

The handset-unit for actuating the settinggear 28 of the gear-train is indicated generally at 32 and, as shown especially well in Figs. 1, 5 and 10, comprises a setting-member or -staff 33 having a thumb net 235 secured at its outer end for manually rotating the setting-staff. At its inner end the setting-stall 33. has rigidly secured thereto by a force-fit a setting-pinion 35. Projec-ting outwardly from the inner end of the setting-stair is a trunnion 3? of reduced diameter. Mounted to rotate freely on the settingstafi 33 rearwardly of the setting-pinion 3'6 is a bearing-member 38 preferably in the form of a disk provided with an integral concentric collar 39 which is adapted to engage against the inner face of the setting-pinion 5 to hold the bearing-member 33 in spaced relationship thereto, the bearing ember and its spacing-collar 35-5 being held fr sliding longitudinally on the setting-stafl away from the setting-pinion 36 by means of a eo 'ar 6 3 which is fixedly secured to the settingtaid and is adapted to bear at its inner end against the adjacent face of the bearing-member 38. The opposite end of the fixed collar to of the setting-staff is reduced in diameter to provide a bearing-sleeve ll.

The aforesaid trunnion 3i and bearing-sleeve M constitute, in effect, shouldered bearing-elements of the setting-staff arranged in longitudinally-spaced relationship thereon, these shouldered bearing-elements being hereinafter referred to as a set of supporting-means for supporting the handset-unit in the frame of the timepiece in the manner hereinafter described. Likewise, the substantially diametrically-opposite edges 38a and 53b of the rotatable bearingmember 38, constitute a set or" supporting-means for supporting the handset-unit in the movemerit-frame. of the timepiece, to which end the diameter of the bearing meinber 38 substantially equals the thickness of the mo-vementdrame as and for the purpose hereinafter described.

Complementing the aforesaid sets of supporting-means or" the handset-unit are holding-apertures in the respective front and rear movementplates of the movement-frame. Referring especially to Figs. 11 and 12, the holding-apertures in the front movement-plate comprise an inner substantially-cylindrical bearing-aperture i2 extending therethrough from front to back and of a diameter to receive and support the aforesaid trunnion 3'1' of the staii 33; and an outer elongated substantially-rectangular holding-slot The latter extends through the movementplate from front to back between the bearingaperture s2 and the outer edge i l of the plate ill and is adapted to, receive and support one of the aforesaid edges 33a33b of the bearingmember 3.8 of the handset-unit. In this connection, the length. of the holding-slot i3 is less than the diameter of the aforesaid bearingmember or dish 38, whereby either of the diametrically-opposite edges 38a"'3b of the disk are eilectively held from passing through the holding-slot d3 of the frame. Moreover, the longitudinal axis of the holding-slot d3 is at substantially right-angles to and bisected by a radial line extending from the center of the movementplate through the center of the bearing-aperture G2, and consequently, in conjunction with a. similar holding-slot of the rear movement-plate, serves to hold the bearing-member in a plane at substantially right angles. to the aforesaid radial line of the movement-plate l6 and in a plane perpendicular to the plane thereof.

The holding-apertures in the rear movementplate H are substantially in alignment with the corresponding holding-apertures of the front movement-plate and comprise an inner cylindrical bearing-aperture Q5 extending through the rear movement-plate from front to back and substantially opposite the bearing-aperture 42 of the front movement-plate 16, the diameter of the bearing-aperture 15 corresponding substantially to the diameter of the bearing-sleeve ii of the setting-staff 33 for rotatably supporting the latter. Formed between the bearing-aperture 5 5 and the outer edge 46 of the rear movementplate I1 is an outer enlongated substantially-rectangular holding-slot 4'! of substantially the same size, configuration and orientation as the helding-slot 23 of the front movement-plate, the holding-slot t! being adapted to accommodate one of the diametrically-opposite edges 3%a3to of the bearing-member 38 to support the latter in the frame in "he manner hereinabove described.

The substantially-similar cylindrical bearingapertures 42 and 25 of the front and rear movement-plates respectively constitute a set of holding-apertures for receiving the aforesaid set of supporting-means 31 and 4| respectively of the setting-staff 33, while the substantially-similar rectangular slots -3 and 41 of the front and rear movement-plates respectively likewise constitute a set of holding-slots for receiving the aforesaid set of supporting-means 38a and 38?) respectively of the bearing-member 38.

Extending outwardly substantially radially from the bearing-aperture 45 of the rear movementplate to the outer edge 46 thereof, is a radial clearance-slot 48 which connects the bearingaperture 55 and its respective holding-slot 4?, the radial interconnecting clearance-slot 48 being coextensive of and substantially-symmetrical with respect to a radial line extending through the bearing-aperture 45 and the holding-slot 41. The width of the aforesaid radial clearance-slot 48 is less than the diameter of the bearing-aperture 45 and corresponds substantially to the diameter of the setting-staff 33 of the handset-unit and hence provides, in effect, restricting-shoulders 48a-48b at its point of intersection with the bearing-aperture 45, the shoulders 48a-48b being adapted to positively hold the bearing-sleeve 4| of the handset-unit from moving upwardly out of its holding-aperture 45 into the interconnecting clearance-slot 48.

The handset-unit is adapted to be assembled in the movement-frame as follows. A pre-assembled movement-frame such as shown in Figs. 1 and. 2 is taken from stock and the two nuts 2| of the pillars l8 nearest the handset-unit holding-apertures of the front movement-plate l6 are removed, as indicated in Fig. 2, or sufiiciently loosened, whereby the front and rear movementplates may be spread apart slightly, as indicated by the broken lines in Fig. 2 and by the full lines in Fig. 6. movement-frame is to be provided with a handset-unit, the setting-staff of which is to project radially from the frame, as indicated in Figs. 1 through 6, then the handset-unit 32 is inserted between the spread-apart movement-plates of the frame so as to engage the outer edges 38a and 38b of its bearing-member 38 in the said outer holding-slots 43 and 4'! respectively of the corresponding movement-plates. Thereupon, the movement-plates are free to spring back to their normal substantially spaced-parallel relationship in which relationship they are securely held by tightening up the beforementioned nuts 2| on the corresponding pillars of the frame. Since the diameter of the bearing-member 33 exceeds the length of each slot, only the outer edges 38a and 38b of the bearing-member project through the slots, whereby the bearing-member is held securely from lateral displacement in the frame. Moreover, since the height of each slot corresponds substantially to the thickness of the bearing-member, the latter is held from radial displacement with respect to the movement-frame. With the bearing-member 38 of the handset-unit secured in the outer holding-slots of the frame, as hereinabove described, the setting-stair of the handset-unit will be supported substantially radially with respect to the movement-frame, the setting-pinion on the inner end of the staff being in endwise mesh with the setting-gear 28 of the gear-train, whereby rotation of the thumb-nut on the outer end of the setting-staff will rotate the setting-gear 28 of the gear-train to set the hourand minute-hands of the timepiece.

Should it be desired to assemble a handset-unit Assuming that the pre-assembled in a movement-frame so that the setting-stair 33 will project substantially perpendicularly from the back-face thereof, as shown in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, then the assembly-nuts 2| of the movementframe are loosened or removed to permit the movement-plates to be sprung apart, as indicated in Fig. 8. Thereupon, the shouldered bearing-element or trunnion 31 of the setting-stair is engaged in its respective bearing-aperture 42 of the front movement-plate, and the staff of the handset-unit swung down about its bearing-trunnion 3'! as a pivot into the radial clearance-slot 48 of the rear movement-plate ll, the width of the aforesaid radial clearance-slot 48 being such as to accommodate the setting-staff 33.

As has been pointed out above, the bearingsleeve 4| of the setting-stair is of greater diameter than the Width of the radial clearanceslot 48 and consequently the bearing-sleeve 4| will not enter into the clearance-slot but will engage the edges thereof on the inner face of the rear movement-plate, as indicated in Fig. 8, thereby holding the movement-plates spread apart until the bearing-sleeve 4| is opposite its bearing-aperture 45 in the rear movement-plate. Thereupon, the bearing-sleeve 45 may enter its bearing-aperture 25 of the rear movement-plate. When this occurs, the setting-staff 33 of the handset-unit extends at substantially right angles to the plane of the movement-plates, with the thumb-nutof the setting-staff projecting from the back of the movement-frame. With the bearing-elements 3'? and ll of the handsetunit assembled in their respective set of bearingapertures 42 and 45 of the movement-plates, the latter may be pulled together by tightening the aforementioned nuts 2| of the pillars l8 to hold the plates in fixed spaccd-parallel relationship. With the setting-stall of the handsetunit assembled thusly in the frame of the timepiece, the settingpinion of the staff peripherally meshes with the setting-gear of the gear-train, whereby manual operation of the thumb-nut of the handset-unit actuates the gear-train to set the hourand minute-hands of the timepiece. Since the width of the radial clearance-slot 48 is less than the diameter of the bearing-sleeve 4| of the staff, the bearing-sleeve is positively held by the shoulders 58a and .812 of the slot from moving upwardly therein. Moreover, as so assembled in the frame, the shoulder of the trunnion 3'! engages the inner face of the front movement-plate, while the shoulder of the bearing-sleeve 4| engages the inner face of the rear movement-plate, as a consequence of which the setting-staff is effectively held from lateral displacement in the movement-frame.

Thus, it is possible by means of the improved handset-unit of this invention and the respective sets of holding-apertures formed in the movement-plates of the timepiece to assemble a handset-unit in a pie-assembled movementframe so that the setting-staff will project radially from the frame or project from the back thereof, depending upon the particular requirements of the trade. Consequently, a relativelysmall stock of pre-assembled movement-frames may be kept on hand and any one frame adapted to a particular requirement by assembling a handset-unit therein in either of the manners hereinabove described.

The invention may be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention, and the present em- 7' bodiments are, therefore, to be considered, inall respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all, changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. In a timepiece, the combination including: a, movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each, plate having a pair of holding-apertures formed, therein, the pair of holding-apertures of one movement-plate. being interconnected by a clearance-slot which intersects the periphery of said one movement-plate, and similar holdingapertures of said-front. and rear movement-plates respectively constituting two sets of holdingapertures; time-indicating means; a settinggear assembled between said front and rear movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said setting-gear to the said time-indicating means; and a handset-unit, said handsetunit having two, sets of supporting-means for selectively assembling said handset-unit in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supportingnneans being arranged to engage in one of the sets of holding-apertures of said movement-plates to support said handset-unit substantially radially of said IIiOVelYlElltframe and in cooperative engagement with said setting-gear, and the second set of supportingmeans being arranged to be engaged in the second set of holding-apertures of said movemen plates by the clearance aiiorded by the said interconnecting clearance-slot to support. said handset-unit substantially perpendicularly to said movement-frame and in cooperative en- 7 gagement with said setting-gear.

2. In a timepiece, the combination including: a movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each plate having a pair of holding-apertures formed therein, the pair of holding-apertures of one movement-plate being interconnected by a clearance-slot which intersects the periphery of said one movement-plate, and similar holdingapertures of said front and rear movementplates respectively constituting two sets of helding-apertures; time-indicating means; a settinggear assembled between said front and rear movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said setting-gear to the: said tirne-indicating means; and a handset-unit, said handsetunithaving two sets of supporting-means oriented in planes at substantially right, angles to each other for selectively assembling said handset-unit in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supportingmeans being arranged to engage in one of the sets of holding-apertures of said movementplates. to support said handset-unit substantially radially of said movement-frame and in coop erative engagement with said setting-gear; and the second set of supporting-means being arranged to be engaged in the second set of bolding-apertures of said movement-plates by the clearance afforded by the said interconnecting clearance-slot to support said handset-unit substantially perpendicularly to said movementframe and in cooperative engagement with said setting-gear.

3. In a timepiece, the combination including: a movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each plate having a pair of holding-apertures formed therein, the pair of holding-apertures of one movement-plata being interconnected by a clearance-slot which intersects the periphery of said one movement-plate, and similar holdings apertures of said front and rear movement-plates respectively constituting two sets of holdingapertures; time-indicating means; a setting-gear assembled between said front and rear movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said gear-wheel to the said time-indicating means; and a handset-unit, said handset-unit having two sets of supporting-means, one of said sets of supporting-means being rotatable with respect to said handset-unit and oriented in a plane at substantially right angles to the other set of supporting-means, the two sets of supporting-means being arranged to selectively assemble said handset-unit. in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supporting-means being arranged to engage in one of the sets of holding-apertures of said movement-plates to support said handset-unit substantially radially of said movement-frame and in cooperative engagement with said setting-gear, and the second set of supporting-means being arranged to be engaged in the second set of holding-apertures of said movement-plates by the clearance afforded by the said interconnecting clearance-slot to support said handset-unit substantially perpendicularly to said movementframe and in cooperative engagement with said setting-gear.

4. In a timepiece, the combination including: a movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each plate having a pair of holding-apertures formed therein comprising a bearing-aperture and a longitudinal slot, the bearing-aperture and longitudinal slot of one plate being interconnected by a radial clearance-slot which intersects the periphery of said one plate, the similar holding-apertures of said front and rear movement-plates respectively constituting two sets of holding-apertures; time-indicating means; a setting-gear assembled between said front and rear movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said setting-gear to the said time-indicating means; and a handset-unit comprising a bearingmember and a manually-operable setting-member mounted for rotation in the said bearingmember and having a setting-pinion, the said setting-unit having two sets of supporting-means for selectively assembling said handset-unit in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supporting-means being arranged to be engaged in the set of bearing-apertures of said movement-plates by the clearance afforded by the said clearance-slot to support the said manually-operable setting-member substantially perpendicularly to said movement-frame with said setting-pinion in peripheral mesh with said setting-gear, and the second set of supporting-means being arranged to engage in the set of longitudinal slots of said movement-plates to support the said manually-operable settingmember substantially radially of said movementframev with said setting-pinion in endwise mesh with said setting-gear.

5. In a timepiece, the combination including: a movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each plate having a pair of holding-apertures formed therein, comprising a bearing-aperture and a longitudinal slot, the bearing-aperture and longitudinal slot of one plate being interconnected by a radial clearance-slot which intersects the periphery of said one plate, the similar holding-apertures of said front and rear movementplates respectively constituting two sets of holding-apertures; time-indicating means; a settinggear assembled between said front and rear movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said setting-gear to the said time-indicating means; and a handset-unit comprising a bearing-member and a manually-operable setting- 1 member mounted for rotation in the said bearingmember and having a setting-pinion, the said setting-unit having two sets of supporting-means for selectively assembling said handset-unit in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supporting-means comprising bearing-elements on said manually-operable setting-member arranged to be rotatably engaged in the set of bearing-apertures of said movementplates by the clearance aiforded by the said interconnecting clearance-slot of one plate to rotatably support the said manually-operable settingmember substantially perpendicular to said movement-frame with said setting-pinion in peripheral mesh with said setting-gear, and the second set of supporting-means comprising the substantially oppositely-disposed edges of said bearingmember which are arranged to engage in the set of longitudinal slots of said movement-plates to support the said manually-operable settingmember substantially radially of said movementframe with said setting-pinion in endwise mesh with said setting-gear.

6. In a timepiece, the combination including:

a movement-frame comprising substantially spaced-parallel front and rear movement-plates, each plate having an outer holding-aperture and an inner holding-aperture formed therein, the inner holding-aperture comprising a bearingaperture and the outer holding-aperture comnecting the said setting-gear to the said timeindicating means; and a handset-unit comprising a bearing-member and a manually-operable setting-member mounted for rotation in the said bearing-member and having a setting-pinion,

the said setting-unit having two sets of support- 5?? ing-means for selectively assembling said handset-unit in either of two positions in said movement-frame, one of said sets of supportingmeans comprising shouldered bearing-elements on said manually-operable setting-member on opposite sides respectively of its bearing-memher, said shouldered bearing-elements being arranged to be rotatably engaged in the set of inner bearing-apertures of said movement-plates by the clearance alforded by the said interconnecting clearance-slot of one plate, to rotatably support the said manually-operable setting-member substantially perpendicular to said movementframe with said setting-pinion in peripheral mesh with said setting-gear, the shoulders of said shouldered bearing-elements being arranged to cooperatively engage corresponding movementplates of said movement-frame to prevent displacement of the said manually-operable settingmember transversely of said movement-frame, and the second set of supporting-means comprising the substantially oppositely-disposed edges of said bearing-member which are arranged to engage in the set of outer longitudinal slots of said movement-plates to support the said manually-operable setting-member substantially radially of said movement-frame with said settingpinion in endwise mesh with said setting-gear.

7. In a timepiece, the combination including: a movement-frame comprising a first movementplate having an inner holding-aperture and an outer holding-aperture therein, a second movement-plate laterally spaced from the said first movement-plate in substantial parallelism therewith and also having an inner holding-aperture and an outer holding-aperture respectively in substantial alignment with the similar holdingapertures of the said first movement-plate and also having a clearance-passage connecting the said inner holding-aperture with the said outer holding-aperture and connecting the latter with the edge of the said second movement-plate; time-indicating means carried by the said movement-frame; a gear-wheel located between the two said movement-plates; means operatively connecting the said gear-wheel to the said timeindicating means; and a handset-unit comprissaid setting-unit having a first pair of supporting-means respectively engageable in two similar supporting-apertures respectively in the said movement-plates and constructed and arranged to hold the said setting-gear in endwise mesh with the aforesaid gear-wheel, the said handset-unit also having a second pair of supporting-means engageable in the other two supporting-apertures respectively in the said movementplates and constructed and arranged to hold the said setting-gear in peripheral mesh with the aforesaid gear-wheel; whereby the said handsetunit may be interchangeably connected with the said movement-frame in either of two operative relationships.

WALTER F. RIEIM'ER.

No references cited. 

